Contract #5: Marcus Bell: Enemy of the State!

[GM Nick]

The Rover's signal is closing on the compound, forced to take a detour to reach the top of the canyon. All that separates the team now from imminent escape is the gap from the edge of the roof to the rocky outcropping.

[John]

Max reloads his shotgun and slings it over his back, its weight hanging naturally and easily there like it was meant to be.

[GM Nick]

The team crosses the dizzying drop one-by-one, and scrabbles up the snow-slicked cliffs until they're standing on the broad plateau of the canyon. The communication tower is the only part of the Legion facility that penetrates the space below, and it stands as a brazen effigy in the starlight that has filled the sky.

There's a palpable sense of relief amongst the team, but also an unspoken air of foreboding. If anything, this foray into the Alaskan wilds has proven that Legion is a worth adversary and far larger and more nefarious than originally suspected. The warmers in the Rover's spartan bench seats gradually thaw the chill from combat-weary bones, but each member of Firestarter wrestles with their own thoughts about Bell, about Six, and about the war on the Tir.

[GM Nick]

[ Firestarter HQ, Outside Seattle ]

Major Clark stands in the center of Firestarter's adopted conference room, though this time in holographic form. The UCAS officer is dressed in a formal uniform bearing his rank and has a beret pulled down over one side of his head. His arms are behind him, clasped at the wrist. He stand patiently while the team relays their version of events, facts and hypotheses. Only after hearing the conclusion of their story, does he speak.

"These events are troubling, but not without a silver lining. We would have never thought Bell capable or willing to attack the Tir head on. Now we know. However, by sabotaging the nano-tech in that missile, you've already dealt a powerful blow to their strategy. What worries me is this... cybernetic monster you called Six. Where did he come from?"

[John]

Max shakes his head, and says,

"Your guess is as good as mine, Colonel. The only thing I know about that monster is that it wasn't a morning person. Without the killswitch they programmed into it, we likely wouldn't have made it back alive."

[GM Nick]

Clark rubs his chin.

"Judging by the number you claimed was tagged to it, I think it's safe to assume there are more. The amount of nuyen that would go into a project like that... well, I'm not a bean counter, but it's high caliber stuff. I'll get intelligence on trying to trace some of the assets coming and going from Legion. In the meantime, we're using what we now know about Legion to begin cracking down on some their smaller cells. General Tag is stepping on a sub-orbital to go inform the Tir of Bell's intentions. As for Firestarter--you boys get some R&R, you've certainly deserved it."

[John]

Max clears his throat and takes a drag off the cigarette he's been nursing for the last couple of minutes, and says,

"I'm glad you think we deserve some rest, Colonel. I feel like it's appropriate to discuss our fee for this job at this point, though. The assignment as it unfolded was considerably different than the assignment as it was given to us, and I feel like further compensation is entirely appropriate. You have us to thank for a missile not landing in Portland, and nowhere was it stipulated that we should involve ourselves with such things."

[GM Nick]

"I acknowledge that, and you certainly have my gratitude. I like you boys, so I'm going to give you this advice: Be satisfied with the original contract. This is your foot in the door, and I want to make sure that I can turn to you in the future and not some burnt-out cowboys from the Barrens. My word only goes so far with the brass and if you rock the boat, I won't be able to dissuade them from picking up a contract with another firm. Believe me, there are a lot of private contractors vying for our employ."

Clark tilts his head.

"Maybe in place of nuyen, you'll accept the promise of a favor?"

[John]

Max narrows his eyes and growls through an exhalation of blue smoke, "Go on..."

[GM Nick]

"The UCAS confiscated a shipping container of contraband weaponry from an Aztech separatist cell. It's currently sitting on a dock in Seattle harbor, being guarded by a squad of my men. I can arrange for them to take an extended lunch break, if you catch my meaning."

[Drew Buddy]

Doc raises an eyebrow.

"Might be worth looking into..."

[GM Nick]

Clark meets Max's gaze. Though little more than a myriad of lasers jittering off of each other at incalculable speeds, the man's expression manages to convey a feeling of camaraderie.

"I have a sinking feeling about this whole Bell situation--even more so than my superiors. If we're going to weather this, we have to trust each other. We have to stick together. We have to make sacrifices. I can't put my finger on why, but I believe in you. I believe in Firestarter."

[John]

Max's eyes darken and he stubs out the butt of his cigarette into a filthy glass ashtray. The elf wipes his mouth and glances at his companions as the final wisps of smoke twirl about his face in the hard lighting of the makeshift conference room. Finally, he turns his gaze back to the projection of Clark, and says,

"I can't say I love the foot we're getting off on, but it sounds like-- for better or worse-- we're in this together."